Brazil police arrest Rio lawmaker for paramilitary ties

[Bacchus39]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13074062

Police in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro have arrested a local lawmaker on suspicion of heading a paramilitary group linked to a series of murders.

They say Luiz Ferreira da Silva runs an illegal armed group which controls 13 Rio neighbourhoods, a charge he denies.

Police said the group had been planning an attack on the city's police chief.

Originally formed to offer protection from drug gangs, many paramilitary groups are now running the criminal rackets they once fought.